Means for operating dipper-handles for shovels or dredges.



PATBNTED JAN. 8, I905.

E. S. BENNETT. MEANSFOR OPERATING DIPPER HANDLES FOR SHOViE-LS 0RDREDGES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

- PATENTED JAN. 3, 1905.

No. 778,840. B. S. BENNETT.

MEANS FOR OPERATING DIPPER HANDLES FOR SHOVELS OR DRBDGES.

AYPLIOATION FILED JAN. 9. 1904.

2 SHEETB-SHF-ET 2 xiiwiwnm Patented January 3, 1905.'

PATENT UFFIQE.

ERASTUS S. BENNETT, OFNEW YORK, N. Y.

MEANS FOR OPERATING DlPPER-HANDLES FOR SHOVELS R DREDGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 778,840, dated January3, 1905.

Application filed January 9, 1904. Serial No. 188,317.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERASTUS S. BENNETT, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York city, New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Means for Operating Dipper Handles for Shovels orDredges, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mining or excavating apparatus, and particularlyto the mechanism associated with the dipper-handle for supporting andoperating the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple construction, avoidingthe use of a chain formed of links, which, as is well known, is asstrong only as its weakest link. Iaim also to provide a light andpractically noiseless operating connection, and for this purpose Iprefer to use a flat wire rope connected with the ends of thedipper-handle and passing around a drum arranged intermediate of thelength of the dipper handle and operated through suitable gearing.

Other features of my invention will be described, and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a plan view of the invention.Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of thehoisting-drum. Fig. 3 is a similar view of a modified form ofhoisting-drum. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of Fig. 3 on line (Z (Zthereof. Fig. 5 is a side view of themeans for adjusting the upperboom-sheave, Fig.

6 is a plan view of the dipper-handle and mechanism associatedtherewith. Fig. 7 is a side view, partly in section, of part of thehandle and devices associated therewith. Fig. 8 is a transversesectional view on line a a of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail side elevationof part of the main boom, and the special supports attached thereto forthe stationary shaft of the drum controlling the dipper-handle. Fig. 10is an enlarged sectional view through the drum on line I) Z) of Fig. 7.

- In the drawings the dipper is shown at 1, the boom of the apparatus at2, the mast at 3, and the turn-table and car-bodyaMI and 5,respectively. The dipper is carried by a handle or beam 6, made up ofchannel-irons 7, the cross-sectional shape of which is indicated at Fig.8. These channel-irons are arranged parallel with each other at asuitable distance apart to receive between them the operating mechanismnow to be described.

A drum 8 is supported to turn on a stationary shaft 8', held in suitablebearings 9 on the upper edge of the boom 2, and this drum is providedwith a peripheral face of the width substantially equal to the spacebetween the outer sides of the channel-irons 7 7, com prising thedipper-handle. Secured to the periphery of this drum in a mannerhereinafter described and centrally thereof is a band or rope 10, formedof wire, the said rope being of fiat formation and extendinglongitudinally of the dipper-handle to the inner end thereof, where itpasses between the channelirons 7 7 and over a pulley 11, journaled inbearings 12, carried by and extending transversely between thechannel-irons 7. In addition to this flat band or rope I provide twoadditional bands or ropes 10, one on each side of the band 10 andsecured to the periphery of the drum near the opposite margins thereof.These two bands 10 extend to the front part of the handle, where theyare secured to a cross-bar 13, to which a stem 14 is connectedcentrally, the said stem passing through an angle-iron cross-piece 15,extending between and secured to the channel-iron 7, the said stemhaving on its end nuts 16, between which and the outer face of thechannel-iron 15 a coil-spring 17 is located to constantly draw thecrossbar 13 toward the front end of the dipper, and thus keep the bandsor flat ropes 10 taut under all conditions. Alike take-up or tensionarrangement is provided for the central band or rope 10, beforedescribed, and for this purpose its end is connected with a cross-bar18, and the ends of this cross-bar are engaged by eyes 19 on rods 20,which rods pass through angle-irons 21. The rods 20 have springs 23surrounding them and bearing at one end on the angle-iron brackets 21and at the opposite end upon nuts 24. The tendency of the springs 23 isto constantly draw the band 10 around and over the roll or pulley 11,and thus keep the same taut. It will be seen from Figs. 6 and 7 that thebands or flat ropes 10 and 10 pass around the drum in oppositedirections, and by operating the said drum in either one direction orthe other one of the connections will be paid out while the otherconnection is wound up, and thus the dipper-handle may be moved inwardlyor outwardly while maintaining a constant and perfect connection withits operating means. If in winding in either direction either of theconnections begins to wind upon itself, the spring holding the oppositeend of said connection to the handle will give to allow such action totake place.

For operating the drum I show gears 26, which, as shown in Fig. 8, areattached to the drum by keys 26. These gears are operated by pinions 27on a cross-shaft 27, carried by the boom. These gears 26 are locatedclose along each side of the channel-irons 7 of the dipper handle 6, soas to form a guiding means therefor, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8. I preferto hold the dipper handle closely against the drum by arms 30, journaledon the bushings 30 of the drum and extending up alongside the gears 26and having rollers 31, journaled on a cross rod or shaft 31, supportedin the ends of the arms, the said rollers bearing on the upper sides ofthe channel-irons. These rollers and tie-bars or arms 30 hold thedipper-handle close against the periphery of the drum in all positionsto which the dipperhandle may be adjusted. The shaft 27' is driven bythe gear-wheel 27" thereon.

Referring now to the manner of securing the wire ropes to the drums, itwill be seen from Figs. 4 and 7 that the means employed consists indoubling the ends of the wire rope within recesses 32 and holding themtherein by bolts 33. The bolts are held in place by nuts 34, Fig. 10,and they may be removed in order to disconnect the ropes from the drum.For this purpose I provide an opening 35, Fig. 2, in the bearing of thehoisting-drum and also an opening 36, Fig. 9, for the bolt which holdsthe end of the wire rope to the drum of the dipper-handle.

The hoisting-drum 37, Figs. 2 and 3, is made up of a body portion orsleeve '38, which has bolted thereto at 39 the two gears 40, to whichthe power is applied from the hoistingengine. These gears are alsosecured to the sleeve by the keys 39. The body portion 38 has within itsends two split bushings L1, and these, together with the body portionand the gears, revolve as one body about the shaft or in Fig. 3, inwhich each gear 40 is provided with a hub-section 40 projectingoutwardly, and a boss 40, projecting inwardly, the latter abuttingagainst each other and forming the periphery of the drum. The two gearsare secured together by the bolts 10.

Fig. 5 shows means for adjusting the upper sheave of the boom intoproper alinement with: the hoisting-drum. For this purpose the shaft 4 1of the upper sheave bears in blocks 15 on the outer sides of the beamsor angleirons composing the boom, the said beams having elongatedopenings 46 through them for the passage and adjustment of thesheaveshaft. The block is held in place by bolts 47,

passing through elongated openings 48 into the beams. The block isadjusted by first loosening the bolts 47 and then turning the screw 49,which passes through an angle-iron bracket 50, secured to the side ofthe boom and bears against the block, and after the block has reached.the desired position it is set rigidly in position by tightening thebolts 17.

The means for operating the dipper-handle already described issupported, as before stated, in the bearings 9. Each of these bearingsis formed in sections 9' 9", Fig. 8, fitted to the upper flange of thechannel-iron beam of the boom and riveted in place. The bearings extendsome distance along the I-beam, 9

so that a long bearing is afforded and the strain is distributed over aconsiderable extent of the I-beam. It will be noted that no holes areformed or cut in the flanges of the I-beam, and the same is not weakenedin any way; but the bearing serves as a reinforce at this point. Thisbearing 9, besides supporting the drum-shaft 8, may also support theshaft carrying the driving-pinions, as shown in Fig. 9.

It will be seen from Figs. 1, 2, and 8 that all the operating mechanismis included within the side beams of the main boom, and there are nooverhanging parts which are liable to become deranged or damaged. Itwill be ob served also that the handle will be guided perfectly and willbe prevented from having lost motion, the gears serving as lateralguides and the rollers 31 as top guides. There will also be an absenceof torsion in the means for driving the dipper-handle, as the drum 8will be driven on both its ends.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the angle-iron beams comprising the handleare provided with reinforcing angle-irons 7 which sustain thelongitudinal thrust of the operating connection 10, said irons extendingup to the bearings 12 of the drum 11 and serving also as a support forthe bracket 21.

I-claim as my invention 1. In combination with a dipper-handle, a drumand flat bands wound around the drum in opposite directions, andconnected one on one side of the drum to the dipper-handle and the otherbeing connected to said handle on the other side of the drum, and meansfor op erating the drum, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the dipper-handle, a drum, a central band of flatmaterial wound in one direction on the drum and connected with thedipper-handle and a pair of bands Wound in'the other direction on thedrum near its margin and connected with the dipper-handle, I

substantially as described.

3. In combination with the dipper-handle, a drum, flat bands wound indifferent directions around the drum and connected with thedipper-handle, and springs for keeping the bands taut, said springsforming part of the connections between the bands and the dipperhandle,substantially as described.

4:. In combination with the dipper-handle formed of channeled ironsarranged parallel with each other, reinforcing angle-irons securedthereto, a drum, bands secured to the said drum and extending indifferent directions and means for connecting the said bands with thedipper-handle, substantially as described.

5. In combination with the dipper-handle made of two bars parallel witheach other, a drum located in line with a space between the two bars andaband connecting the drum with the dipper-handle, said band passing overa pulley arranged between the two bars and a spring connection betweenthe band and the dipper-handle, substantially as described.

6. In combination with the dipper-handle, a drum, means wound inopposite directions around the drum, and connected withthedipper-handle. and means for tying the dipperhandle to thedrum-shaft, substantially as described.

7 In combination with the dipper-handle, a drum, means wound in oppositedirections around the drum, and connected with the dipper-handle, andmeans for tying the dipperhandle to the drum-shaft, said means includinga part to bear on the dipper-handle and a tie bar or bars connecting thesame with the shaft of the drum, substantially as described.

8. In combination with a dipper-handle, a drum and a flat band of wirerope connecting the drum with the handle, substantially as described.

9. In combination with a drum for a dredge or shovel having a recesstherein, a rope havof the handle, said gears serving to guide the same,substantially as described.

12. In combination,adipper-handle,adrum, gears for operating the drumextending up on each side of the handle, and means resting on top of thedipper-handle, said means being supported from the axial line of thedrum, substantially as described.

13. In combination, a drum, a dipper-handle resting thereon, theflexible connections between the handle and the drum, gears foroperating the drum extending up on each side of the handle, and rollersresting on top of the handle and supported from the axis of the drum,substantially as described.

14. In combination with a boom, composed of beams with a space betweenthem, a dipper-handle and operating means therefor arranged whollywithin the vertical planes of the said beams composing the boom,substantially as described.

15. In combination, a boom composed of side beams spaced apart, adipper-handle passing between the said beams, a drum arranged betweenthe beams with connections therefrom to the dipper-handle, and gearingfor operating the drum also located wholly within the vertical planes ofthe sides of the boom,

substantially as described.

16. In combination with the beams composing the boom, a dipper-handle,means for operating the same and bearings for said means serving toreinforce the boom-beams at the point where the dipper is supportedthereon, said bearings extending along the beams to distribute thestrain, substantially as described.

17'. In combination with the beams composing the boom, a dipper-handle,means for operating the same, and bearings for said means serving toreinforce the boom-beams at the point where the dipper is supportedthereon, said bearings extending along the beams to distribute thestrain and each consisting of a pair of castings secured to the flangesof the beams, substantially as. described.

18. In combination, the two-part boom, a dipperhandle, a drum havingconnections with the dipper-handle, bearings on the boom for the saiddrum and a shaft having pinions for driving the drum, the said bearinghaving an extension with bearings therein for the pinion-shaft,substantially as described.

19. In combination with a boom, a drum composed of a body portion andgears forming the end guides therefor, with means for operating the saidgears, substantially as described.

20. In combination with the boom, a hoisting-drum, a sheave at the endof the boom and adjustable bearings for the same to line said sheave upin relation to the hoisting-drum, substantially as described.

21. In combination with the boom, a hoisting-drum, a sheave at the endof the boom and drum for driving the same to avoid torsion, Isubstantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

ERASTUS S. BENNETT.

Witnesses:

J. R. SooTT, M. L. JUSTIN.

